Here, Fishey - Fish.
Fair warning to all: prepare to be inundated. I have returned from Alaska with a little bit of everything- killer stories, killer food, killer shots and most importantly, killer fishing. It is my vain hope that I will not overwhelm you. But please consider that the sheer vastness of AK is difficult to abbreviate. After all, everything is truly bigger and more extreme in the Last Frontier. As they say.
You may have yawned through my blog several months back about the significance of eating wild salmon vs. farmed salmon and at long last I can finally provide you, loyal readers and foodies, with evidence to back my claims. This is as fresh as it comes. This is sea-lice-on-the-fish fresh. This is salmon meat so vibrant and beautiful, it hinges on fluorescence. Shall we begin?
Charter Service provided by Alaska West Air. Remarkable guides, awesome sights- the whole nine.
Fishing on the Nushagak River. A bit of a slow day. The “Nush,” (pronounced noosh- long u) as the locals call it, is world-famous for its King salmon run. Our catch of the day.
Heli-fishing on the Chuit. This day would prove to be epic.
Our seasoned fishing guide from AK West Air, Nick Perata, filleting our catch. Want to get schooled on the river? Ask for this dude. You’ll learn a thing or two. Or twenty.
Fishing on a drift boat with our uber-mellow fishing ninja Reubin Payne, of Widespread Fishing.
This magnificent river is called the Kasilof.
This magnificent fish will taste delicious with roasted vegetables and cous-cous.
We had to let old "Darky" go- too far gone. When in Alaska, do as the Alaskans do, or as any self-respecting angler (should) do. Catch and release. Show some respect for these fascinating creatures and their pristine environment. And by respect, I mean everything inside of your body that screams, “This place is so mind-blowing and unspoiled, I don’t know whether I’m dreaming or just damn lucky to be here.” Word. To your Mother (Earth).
Finally, a portion of our fish to ship back to the Lower 48… flash frozen, vacuum-sealed. Straight up gorgeous meat. Will post said meat being prepared with various techniques when I’ve recovered fully from my Alaska hangover. It’s a bruiser.
Comments
I noted a lack of reporting on the mosquitoes. On my trip in the late 80s gloves and head masks were mandatory. Those skeeters could stand flat-footed and screw a crow.
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Posted by: eLwood![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 13, 2008 12:19 PM
Next time, go for some halibut, too. I love my Alaskan salmon, but the fresh halibut is out of this world. Off Wrangle island, you can fish for both with just a small shifting of your position. And I see the "sunny" Alaskan coastal weather is still the same
Posted by: Bubba![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 13, 2008 02:12 PM
eLwood
The mosquitoes were nothing a little bug repellent to the face couldn't handle. We also had quite a nice breeze every day we fished.
Bubba
We caught our halibut for the year. A slow day, bad weather, but plenty to eat.
Posted by: JenJens![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 13, 2008 07:58 PM
Yo, jen, when I was there the mosquitoes were so thick you often could not see your fly line on the water.
Posted by: eLwood![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 13, 2008 10:54 PM
I've heard the stories and I certainly believe you, eLwood. They were fairly harmless this year. In fact, I got eaten up worse on Lake Catherine this wknd than I did when I was in AK. An experience I'm glad to be without- getting annihilated by monster AK "mossies", that is.
Posted by: JenJens![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 14, 2008 09:19 AM
The photo of the red filets in the cooler says it all about fresh caught Alaskan salmon. Look at that color. You don't see that in the salmon sold in Arkansas. It tastes as good as it looks.
Luckily, we can have it shipped here, halibut and King crab legs as long as a tall man's arm (including my hand and fingers) too.
I have friends in the fish camps and get it a little cheaper. At least I used to. Freight costs are probably up and the start of commercial setnet fishing is slow this summer.
Posted by: Whoscrumdown![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/eatarkansas/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 14, 2008 01:38 PM